Monday, November 29, 2010

STUPID HASBRO, STUPID FOOD ALLERGIES!

Now that Thanksgiving is over we're focusing on preparations for Christmas.  Alexa made a few gift requests and one of these is the Easy Bake Oven by Hasbro.  I had one as a child and love it-even though it never really worked and the cakes tasted terrible, it was MY oven and I loved it!  Yesterday, Alexa received a video message from Santa which mentioned said Easy Bake Oven (I should have investigated first!).   At dinner last night, Alexa says "you know-I bet Santa will make me a special safe Easy Bake Oven, one that doesn't have anything I'm allergic to.  Do you know why? Because he makes them in his workshop with his Elves so he can make one special for me!" Yep.  I thought "oh CRAP! I screwed up!" but said, "That's good thinking Alexa, maybe Santa can do that.  We'll have to wait and see." So today woke up thinking "I hope I can pull this off!"  I went online to Hasbro to research the mixes.  I could not find the ingredients for any of the mixes (even though their customer service "help" center says they are listed there).  So, after dropping Alexa off at school, I made a special trip to Toys R Us.  I found the Easy Bake Oven and to my dismay the box says "May contain traces of Peanuts and/or Tree nuts" GREAT! Thanks Hasbro!!  I can not tell you how frustrating this is.  I literally want to cry.  I searched around the store to see if there was anything else similar that might work.  I found a "Blooming Cupcakes" kit which is safe but it's not an "oven" and I'm not sure this would be a suitable replacement since she's really more interested in the actual oven than the cakes.  This sucks. Why in the world did she have to ask for a food related toy? What is an allergy Mom to do??? So now I'm in "fix it" mode.  How can I make my little girl happy and fulfill her Christmas wish?  Option 1.) Get the Blooming Cupcake Kit without the oven and hope she's happy to have a special cupcake mix even without the oven.   2) Buy her a toaster oven, decorate it all pretty and tell her it's her "special oven".  3.) Buy the damn Easy Bake Oven (I do NOT want to give Hasbro my money!) and replace the poison cake mixes with packets of Cherrybrook Kitchen cake mix in little packets with ribbon and a note from Santa-then PRAY they cook in the damn oven.  (The box says "use only the Easy Bake oven mixes" but I'm pretty sure that's just a marketing gimmick.)   Knowing Alexa,  I think option 3 is best but I really have a hard time supporting a company that excludes an entire population of kids because they want to cheap out on manufacturing costs.  It just feels WRONG and I'm angry and disappointed.  This is just another example of how our special girl is challenged just to enjoy life as a kid without worry or being "left out".  I'm going to do more research online for other "oven" toys and try to show her the other kit and see if she is excited about it.  I'll let you know what we decide.  At least the company that makes the Blooming Cupcakes didn't exclude the peanut/nut allergic!!  Good Job Crafty Cooking kits and Thank you!!

5 comments:

  1. Susan, I feel so bad after hearing your story, i wish toy manufactors would think. I found this site with easy bake oven recipes which are nut free. I hear your pain about purchasing from hasbro, maybe we can all email them and tell them what we think.
    http://nut-freemom.blogspot.com/2010/08/peanut-allergy-friendly-chocolate-cake.html

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  2. Thank you Ruth! I would love it if others would email Hasbro and tell them how disappointing this is. I already submitted an email. Curious to see what they have to say. I'll keep you updated and thank you for the link!

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  3. Susie - Option 3 all the way!! You can easily adapt 'safe' mixes for the easy bake oven.(Google it) Even though you don't want to give Hasbro your money: 1) it's not a lot of money and 2)you can still send them a nasty-gram and voice your objections. Lastly, Alexa will be thrilled with her easy bake oven. Make sure you make a TON of packets for her 'cuz she'll want to make a lot of 'cakes' with the lovely light bulb oven :-)

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  4. Noreen-I think that's what I've decided. Hasbro responded "sorry but" and also said that I can use other cake mixes as long as they don't have egg which obviously isn't a problem for us. I just went through photos online with Alexa and she was QUITE clear she wants the Easy Bake Oven. Thanks for the feedback!!!

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  5. Do you remember the measurements you used to break down the recipe to fit in the oven?

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